Eco-Friendly & Budget-Smart: Why to Review Your School Print Supplier

As the new school budget year kicks off, it's the perfect time for your school to reassess expenses and find opportunities to save money. One often overlooked area where significant savings can be made is the school printing contract.

Let's explore why you should review your current printing agreement and how to ensure you're getting the best value for your money.

1. The Changing Landscape of Education Technology

Over the last few years, education has experienced a rapid adoption of digital learning tools and devices. This transition may have altered your school's printing needs so reevaluating your printing contract can help you take advantage of any cost reductions tied to your school's changing print requirements.

2. Evolving Printing Solutions

New printing technologies and solutions are continuously emerging, offering better efficiency, lower costs, and reduced environmental impact. By reviewing your current contract, you may find that there are more cost-effective options available that can save your school money and provide improved services.

3. Greater Customisation Opportunities

Printing contracts should cater to the specific needs of your school, but many schools are still locked into rigid, one-size-fits-all agreements. By reviewing your contract, you could get a more flexible and customisable contract to better suit your school's unique requirements. This included things like increasing the number of printers in your school at certain times of the year, or using modular print solutions that enable you to add extra functionality (stapling, sorting, etc) to your school printers.

4. Environmental Benefits

A commitment to sustainability is not only good for the planet but can also save your school money. By reevaluating your printing contract, you may find eco-friendly options that use less energy, reduce waste, and minimise your school's carbon footprint. We previously explored ways in which schools printers impact the environment and how your school can go greener in our recent blog.

5. Potential Hidden Costs

Over time, it's easy to lose sight of the finer details in your school printing contract. Regularly reviewing your agreement can help you uncover hidden costs, such as maintenance fees or consumable charges, that may be unnecessarily inflating your expenses. Identifying and eliminating these hidden costs can lead to significant savings. We explored how you could slash your annual printing costs by up to 50% for your school in our recent blog.

How to Review Your School Printing Contract:

1. Analyse Your Current Usage: Begin by reviewing your school's print usage patterns, volume, and costs. This information will help you identify areas where you may be overpaying or not utilising the full benefits of your contract. We explored how you can audit your existing print solution in this blog.
2. Research Alternative Providers: Don't be afraid to shop around. Research other printing service providers to see if they offer better rates, services, or technology that align with your school's needs.
3. Negotiate: Armed with knowledge of your school's printing requirements and alternative options, approach your current provider to discuss renegotiating the terms of your contract. Be prepared to outline your desired changes and explain how they will benefit both parties. We outlined 10 questions you can ask your print supplier here.
4. Assess Environmental Impact: As you review your contract, consider the environmental impact of your current printing practices. Explore options for incorporating eco-friendly solutions that can reduce waste, energy consumption, and costs.
5. Monitor Progress: Once you've renegotiated your printing contract, monitor your school's usage and costs to ensure the new agreement delivers the anticipated savings and benefits.

To conclude, as you begin your new budget year, reviewing and renegotiating school printing contracts can lead to significant cost savings, increased efficiency, and reduced environmental impact! By taking the time to assess your school's printing needs and exploring alternative providers, you can ensure your school is getting the best possible value for money while promoting sustainability. Don't miss out on this opportunity to give your school's budget a much-needed boost!